Abbas’ political adviser meets Maltese minister in Ramallah

Nimer Hammad, political advisor to President Mahmoud Abbas, met on Thursday with Maltese Minister of Foreign Affairs, Francis Zammit Dimech in the presidential headquarters in Ramallah. Hammad briefed the Maltese minister on the latest developments in the peace process and the ongoing Palestinian-Israeli negotiations. He affirmed the Palestinian leadership and President Mahmoud Abbas’ commitment to the peace process as stated in the resolutions of international legitimacy in order to achieve peace and security in the region through the establishment of an independent state of Palestine based on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. Hammad pointed out that the Palestinian side worked in support of the international efforts especially U.S. efforts in order to make the current negotiations a success. However, the Israeli side insists on Settlement activities and unilateral steps that do not help to create a positive atmosphere in order to have fruitful negotiations. He stressed that settlement activities in the Palestinian territory, particularly in Jerusalem, and the ongoing violations and attacks of settlers against the Palestinian people and their properties threaten any chance to achieve a just peace between the Palestinian-Israeli sides. Hammad expressed Palestine’s keenness to promote the bilateral relations between the two countries at all levels.